Kjell Bergh, CEO of Borton Volvo in Minnesota, argues the Trump administration’s decision to bar Polestar from U.S. sales starting in 2027 raises questions the industry hasn’t fully reckoned with. U.S. inventories hold steady. Plus, Automotive News Canada’s Greg Layson talks about what the U.S. declining to renew the USMCA long term actually means for the industry.

July 9, 2026 | Borton Volvo's Kjell Bergh reacts to Polestar ban; USMCA limbo

Automotive News Daily Drive

Welcome to Daily Drive for Thursday, July 9, 2026. I'm Jake Neer in Detroit, in for Molly Boygon. Today on the show, BMW is running away with the US luxury sales crown, inventories are holding steady and so is pricing discipline, and Tata and JLR are pledging to work more closely together, even as one of their biggest joint plans falls apart.

Plus, Borton Volvo CEO Schell Bergh says the Polestar ban might be settled, but the question of who gets targeted next is not. It's also not quite clear how durable the written guarantee for Volvo to be able to produce and import in this country, how durable that is. Let's run through all the news you need to know to keep up in the auto industry.

US new vehicle inventories ticked up slightly to start July at just under 3 million vehicles that's still within the range where automakers and dealers are maintaining pricing discipline. According to data firm Catalyst IQ, that represents a 75-day supply at current selling rates, flat from June and 5 days below last year.

Hybrids remain the fastest turning segment at 63 days, while EVs sit at 70 and traditional gas vehicles at 78. BMW has a firm grip on the US luxury sales crown so far. The German brand posted a 13% sales jump in the second quarter, delivering more than 102,000 vehicles and stretching its lead over second place Lexus to more than 17,000 vehicles.

Lexus dropped 7.5% in the quarter, weighed down by a redesign of its ES sedan. Mercedes rounded out the top three. BMW of North America EVP Sean Bugbee says the automaker is ahead of its first half targets and on track to finish 2026 ahead of last year.

July 9, 2026 | Borton Volvo's Kjell Bergh reacts to Polestar ban; USMCA limbo

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.

July 9, 2026 | Borton Volvo's Kjell Bergh reacts to Polestar ban; USMCA limbo

Read the full transcript

The candid version is on a podcast, not the earnings call.

The candid version is on a podcast,
not the earnings call.